Hollywood and Biblical Values Collide

The Influence of Hollywood on Faith and Culture

For the past three years, as I’ve been growing in my walk with Christ and diving deeply into God’s Word, I’ve started to notice something I can no longer ignore. What once felt like harmless entertainment now often leaves me unsettled. The more I study Scripture, the more clearly I see how Hollywood and biblical values are increasingly at odds—what the world celebrates, God’s Word often condemns. Hollywood doesn’t just reflect culture; it shapes it—and often in ways that stand in direct contradiction to biblical truth.

I used to enjoy movies and TV without much thought. But now, with the Holy Spirit guiding my heart, I can’t help but recognize the subtle (and sometimes not-so-subtle) ways that the entertainment industry is reshaping culture and values. The underlying messages in today’s most popular shows and films often promote ideologies that directly oppose biblical teaching.

Hollywood and biblical values in conflict through modern media — Modern entertainment often promotes values that directly contradict Scripture.

The Power of Storytelling—and Its Agenda

Hollywood understands one thing very well: storytelling changes minds. Stories shape how people think, what they believe, and even how they define right and wrong. Jesus Himself used parables to reveal truth. The enemy, however, uses the same tool to distort it.

As Philippians 4:8 reminds us:
“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right… think about such things.”

Sadly, today’s entertainment encourages us to dwell on the opposite. More and more, films and series don’t just reflect culture—they drive it, often embedding political or spiritual ideologies into the storyline.

Themes Where Hollywood and Biblical Values Collide

Sexual Immorality as Entertainment

Sex outside of marriage is celebrated in nearly every mainstream production. From casual flings to glorified adultery and the promotion of same-sex relationships, today’s media makes sin look desirable—and obedience look foolish.

Romans 1:24–27 directly addresses this:
“Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts…”

Popular shows like Euphoria, Bridgerton, and Sex Education glorify promiscuity, often among teens, while portraying Christian values as outdated or repressive. Same-sex relationships are not only normalized but often placed on a moral pedestal—while biblical marriage is ignored or mocked.

Calling Evil Good and Good Evil

Isaiah 5:20 warns:
“Woe to those who call evil good and good evil…”

Hollywood often paints villains as relatable antiheroes while casting Christians as intolerant bigots. Shows like Lucifer make Satan charming and misunderstood, while faith-based characters are often shown as harsh, unloving, or ignorant. This inversion of good and evil is spiritual warfare disguised as entertainment.

Self as God

One of Hollywood’s most consistent messages is “follow your heart.” But Jeremiah 17:9 says:
“The heart is deceitful above all things…”

Modern films encourage people to be their own gods—prioritizing personal truth over absolute truth. Disney’s Turning Red and Moana, for instance, subtly push themes of rejecting parental and spiritual authority to find fulfillment in self-expression.

This message of self-worship runs completely counter to Jesus’ call to deny ourselves and follow Him (Luke 9:23).

Political Messaging Hidden in Plain Sight

Many films today are not just entertainment—they’re messaging tools. Hollywood has become a vehicle for promoting progressive ideology:

LGBTQ+ themes dominate plots (see Heartstopper or the updated Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies)
Climate change alarmism is embedded in children’s films (Strange World)
Feminism and gender identity confusion are promoted through reboots and new characters (Disney’s recent Snow White controversy)
Christianity is ridiculed or villainized, as in The Handmaid’s Tale or The Boys

There’s a consistent pattern: redefine morality, reject God’s design, and push for cultural deconstruction under the guise of representation and “tolerance.” For a deeper dive into how this ideology contradicts Scripture, I break it down further in The Christian Response to Gender Ideology.

Hollywood’s Portrayal of Christianity: Twisting the Truth

Have you noticed how often Hollywood misrepresents Christians? Faithful believers are rarely shown as loving or joyful. Instead, they’re often portrayed as rigid, hateful, or bigoted.

Progressive Christianity has made its way into the entertainment industry as well. Shows like The Young Pope or even scenes in Grey’s Anatomy portray liberal theology—where God’s truth is watered down to fit human desires.

2 Peter 2:1–3 warns of false teachers who will “secretly introduce destructive heresies.” This subtle influence leads viewers to believe that Christianity can be remade in our image.

Why It Matters: A Call for Discernment

Romans 12:2 urges:
“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”

Entertainment is not neutral. It shapes our thinking and numbs our conscience when we’re not careful. What we consume affects our beliefs, our convictions, and even our relationship with God.

Hebrews 5:14 describes spiritual maturity as being able to “distinguish good from evil.” If we passively absorb what culture feeds us, we risk adopting its values. This clash between cultural influence and biblical obedience is something I explored more deeply in my post on Biblical Truth vs. Cultural Relativism.

Proverbs 4:23 reminds us to guard our hearts. That includes the shows we binge, the films we admire, and the messages we internalize.

Hope and Alternatives for Christians

The good news? We don’t have to accept what Hollywood offers.

There’s a growing movement of content creators, producers, and studios pushing back:

Angel Studios (The Chosen, His Only Son) There’s a growing movement of content creators pushing back. See what Angel Studios is doing with series like The Chosen and more. While I recognize that some believers have serious theological concerns about The Chosen—especially regarding its artistic liberties and interfaith production—I still believe it can be appreciated when approached with biblical discernment and a strong grounding in Scripture.
PureFlix offers clean, faith-affirming alternatives
YouTube channels, podcasts, and indie Christian films are providing meaningful, biblically sound entertainment

The goal isn’t to live in a bubble but to be discerning. Support what is true, noble, and pure—and challenge what isn’t.

Final Thoughts: Stay Awake, Stay Bold

I’m not writing this to bash entertainment altogether. I still enjoy a good story. But I’ve learned that not every story is worth hearing—and not every message is worth letting in.

The Holy Spirit has opened my eyes over the past few years. What I once viewed casually, I now see as spiritual warfare—cloaked in lighting, laughs, and soundtracks. And I believe more Christians need to wake up to that reality.

Let’s stop assuming media is just entertainment. It’s discipleship—one way or the other. Let’s be bold in our faith, even in how we watch and what we support. If you’re wondering how to speak truth in love amid a hostile culture, I’ve written about it in Being a Bold Christian Without Being Combative.